Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Science

lord hunt of chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following their indication that they will to continue to collaborate with European partners on science and research initiatives post-Brexit, how they intend to support the development of links between UK and European scientific organisations and institutions.

lord henley: In March, the UK and EU negotiation teams reached an important milestone in the Brexit process by agreeing the terms of a time-limited implementation period, which provides for UK entities’ continued access to EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, for their duration. Furthermore, as my rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in her Mansion House speech, we want to establish a far-reaching science and innovation pact with the EU, facilitating the exchange of ideas and researchers. This could include continuing to cooperate through specific policies and programmes that are greatly to our mutual advantage. The most substantial areas that we are interested in exploring include Framework Programme 9, Euratom Research and Training and the Copernicus programme. Specifically, we would like the option to fully associate to these programmes – we feel that this is in our joint interests. The scale and strength of the UK’s research and innovation is such that we should be looking for a bespoke relationship. We would like to discuss the details as soon as possible.

Postal Services

lord forsyth of drumlean: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many communities in theUKdo not receive a daily postal delivery.

lord henley: This information is not held centrally. The Postal Services Act 2011 sets the minimum service level requirements – a 6 days a week letter delivery service to every UK address. Ofcom, as the independent regulator, monitors the delivery of service standards. Its assessments of postal services have been published annually on its website since 2011-12.

Royal Mail: Managers

lord forsyth of drumlean: To ask Her Majesty's Government which executiveshave responsibility for the efficient and timely delivery of the Royal Mail; and how many of those executives are paid more than £50,000.

lord henley: These are operational matters for Royal Mail. Royal Mail’s Annual Report and Financial Statement sets out its executive structure and its remuneration policy.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Internet

lord harris of haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cloud services contracts that were previously delivered by British cloud services providers for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are now delivered by multinational cloud service providers; what is the value of those contracts; and what are the names of the previous providers.

lord henley: The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has no contracts that were previously delivered by British cloud services providers that are now delivered by multinational cloud service providers.

Galileo System

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend that theUK will continue to participate in the Galileo satellite navigation programme following Brexit; and what alternatives they are considering in the event that such participation is not possible.

lord henley: The UK’s aim and preference is to remain within the Galileo programme and to continue working with our European partners. However, in the event that the Galileo programme ceases to be an option, the Government is looking at other options outside of the programme to meet our security and strategic requirements. As announced on 2 May, a taskforce of Government specialists and domestic industry will develop options for a British Global Navigation Satellite System that would have a similar range of commercial and security applications as the US GPS system.

Coal

lord faulkner of worcester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the continued availability of coal at an affordable price for (1) heritage steam locomotive, (2) traction engine, and (3) stationary engine, operations.

lord henley: The Government produces regular reports on the supply and cost of coal. These reports can be found attached.



DUKES 2017
(PDF Document, 6.75 MB)




Quarterly Energy Prices 2017
(PDF Document, 866.77 KB)

Zero Hours Contracts

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have madethe use of zero-hours contracts; and what steps they are taking to ensure that people who would like to work more hours have the opportunity to do so.

lord henley: Zero hours contracts were considered as part of the Review of Modern Working Practices. The review, and government, both recognise that zero hours contracts have an important part to play in a modern, flexible labour market and benefit those who cannot or do not want to work in a regular contract. Banning zero hours contracts altogether would negatively impact more people than it would help. We have published our response to the review which commits to firm action and future legislation where appropriate. This includes a commitment to provide a right to request a more predictable contract for all workers, including those on zero hours contracts. We are currently consulting on how this would work in practice.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Nuclear Weapons

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response toLeading by Example: Reforming UK Nuclear Declaratory Policy,the briefing by the British American Security Information Council, and, in particular, its recommendation that the UK should maintain its lead role in multilateral disarmament by (1) explicitly declaring that UK nuclear weapons are only there to deter nuclear use or blackmail when the survival of the UK is in question, (2) strengthening the UK's negative security assurances to non-nuclear states, (3) committing never to use nuclear weapons first, and (4) clarifying that the UK's nuclear weapons are weapons of last resort, and what is meant by that.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK's independent nuclear deterrent remains essential for our security. But we are committed to maintaining the minimum amount of destructive power needed to deter any aggressor. We also have a strong track record on nuclear disarmament, reducing our nuclear forces by over half since the Cold War peak in the late 1970s. We intend to maintain a leading role in multilateral disarmament efforts; unilateral disarmament would undermine our security and not make the world a safer place. We regret that Russia is making a number of destabilising nuclear and missile investments and undermining existing arms control Treaties, and DPRK is developing its illegal nuclear programme in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions; this makes progress more difficult. We are fully committed to ensuring that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) remains the cornerstone of international efforts to achieve our long term goal of a world without nuclear weapons.Our policy remains as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence & Security Review. This said, "We would use our nuclear weapons only in extreme circumstances of self-defence, including the defence of our NATO Allies. While our resolve and capability to do so if necessary is beyond doubt, we will remain deliberately ambiguous about precisely when, how and at what scale we would contemplate their use, in order not to simplify the calculations of any potential aggressor". The Review also said that "The UK will not use or threaten to use, nuclear weapons against any Non-Nuclear Weapons State Party to the Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This assurance does not apply to any state in material breach of those non-proliferation obligations." We will continue to keep our nuclear posture under review in the light of the international security environment and the actions of potential adversaries.

Romania: Prison Accommodation

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of prison conditions in Romania.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is aware of the standard of prison conditions in Romania. We have publicly questioned Romania at the Human Rights Council, most recently in January, about its work to improve detention conditions, and our embassy in Bucharest is in regular contact with the Romanian government on this topic.

Iraq: Islamic State

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made to implement UNSC Resolution 2379 of 21 September 2017; in particular, whether an investigative team is now in place with terms of reference agreed by the government of Iraq; whether all other states are cooperating with investigations in accordance with paragraph 10 of that Resolution; and whether a trust fund has been established in accordance with paragraphs 13 and 14.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2379, the Terms of Reference for the UN Investigative Team have been agreed. A team from the UN Office of Legal Affairs visited Iraq in early April to meet key Iraqi stakeholders, and we expect the Special Advisor who will lead the investigative team to be appointed very soon. Once this appointment has been made, the investigative team will be recruited by the Special Advisor and deployed to Iraq. A trust fund has been established to help joint fund the team alongside funding from the UN's Regular Budget. The UK has contributed an initial £1 million. We are also working with the Iraqi judiciary to build their capacity, as called upon by the Resolution.

Syria: Armed Conflict

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to secure the widest compliance with UNSC Resolution 2401 of 24 February concerning Syria, apart from paragraph 1; and in particular, whether de-mining has started in compliance with paragraph 11 of that Resolution.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have repeatedly pressed the Syrian regime and its backers, Russia and Iran, to abide by their obligations under Resolution 2401. At the UN Human Rights Council we secured a UK-proposed resolution calling for the Resolution's full and immediate implementation. Following the liberation of Raqqa in October 2017, we provided a further £10 million in humanitarian aid to support people in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour, including for de-mining. The UK will be providing additional funding to support mine action organisations in Syria, in line with the Government's announcement that it will treble its global Mine Action spending to £100 million by 2020.

Gaza: Egypt

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with the government of Egypt in an attempt to find a solution that will ensure a sustainable future for Gaza.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We regularly discuss the situation in Gaza with the Egyptian authorities and welcome Egyptian efforts to facilitate the return of the legitimate Palestinian Authority (PA). Most recently, our Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Cairo discussed these issues with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 12 April. We encourage all those involved to engage in good faith, in order to allow the PA to resume fully its government functions in Gaza.

EU Enlargement

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any public statements in favour of the concept of European Union enlargement since the UK referendum on EU membership; and if so, when and in what forum those statements were made.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: This Government believes that the accession process is fundamental to delivering security, stability and prosperity in the Western Balkans and Turkey. We have set that out (to Parliament, EU and regional partners) on a number of occasions since the UK referendum on EU membership. The UK will continue to support countries committed to the accession process in meeting the necessary requirements. As and when candidate countries have met the requirements for accession in full, it will be for those countries and European Union members at the time to decide on membership.

Balkans: Foreign Relations

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their principal aims for the EU–Western Balkans summit to be held in Sofia in May, and for the subsequent UK–Western Balkans summit to be held in London in July; and whether they plan to advance the concept of EU enlargement on these occasions.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The EU-Western Balkans Summit in May and the UK-hosted Western Balkans Summit in July are crucial elements of a busy year of international activism on the Western Balkans. The Government is working closely with the Bulgarian government and the EU institutions to ensure that the London Summit builds on and complements the Sofia Summit. In doing so, we are maximising the impact of our collective efforts to promote economic stability; increase security cooperation; and address political challenges in the region. Progress in these areas will support the Western Balkans countries in moving forward on their Euro-Atlantic accession path whilst contributing to UK security interests.

Bahrain: Capital Punishment

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what urgent representations they have made regarding the decision by the Military Court of Cassation in Bahrain to uphold death sentences against four citizens, given that these men are now facing imminent execution.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty. It is the Government's longstanding position to oppose capital sentences in all circumstances and countries. We continue to make this clear to the Government of Bahrain. The UK welcomes the decision on of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on 26 April to commute these death sentences.

Bahrain: Trials

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK embassy in Bahrain has been prevented from observing the trial of civilians tried in military courts.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The trials in military courts have been closely monitored by the British Embassy in Bahrain. We continue to encourage Bahrain to meet its international and domestic human rights obligations.

Bahrain: Technical Assistance

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 16 April (HL6836) regarding the technical assistance programme in Bahrain which includes “justice reform”, what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of this programme given the recent death sentences passed in Bahrain and reports of associated violations of due process, enforced disappearance and the use of confessions extracted under torture.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government works with a number of implementation partners and beneficiaries to support Bahraini-led reform. These programmes aim to support progress on building effective and accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and justice reform. All of our work is in line with international standards, and aims to share the UK's expertise and experience. Any training provided by, or on behalf of, the Government fully complies with our domestic and international human rights obligations.  The UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty. It is the Government's longstanding position to oppose capital sentences in all circumstances and countries. We continue to make this clear to the Government of Bahrain. The UK welcomes the decision of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa to commute four death sentences in Bahrain.

Iran: Diplomatic Relations

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what diplomatic strategies they are pursuing to help to de-escalate tensions and reduce mistrust between Iran and her neighbours.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We remain concerned about current tensions in the Middle East, and particularly about Iran’s destabilising regional activity. We are working closely with our partners in the region, as well as the United States and our European allies, to address these concerns. We also continue to raise them with the Iranian Government at the highest levels, pressing them to play a constructive role in regional affairs. Most recently, the Minister for the Middle East, visited Tehran on 29 April and discussed these issues, as well as other areas of concern.

Syria: Military Intervention

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are seeking guarantees from the government of Turkey that it will not cause further deaths, injuries and destruction elsewhere in Syria, similar to those resulting from its operations in Afrin Canton.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government is in close communication with the Turkish government about their military operations in northern Syria. We have been consistent in calling for de-escalation and the protection of civilians, and ministers have urged their Turkish counterparts to do everything they can to facilitate access for life-saving humanitarian aid, and to allow freedom of movement for those caught up in the violence, in accordance with international humanitarian law. We support discussions between Turkey and the US, and believe that a negotiated agreement taking into account the security concerns of both parties is necessary to prevent further conflict. Achieving a political settlement to end the war in Syria remains in our shared interest.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider that the UK will be liable to make Brexit-related payments to the EU even in a no deal scenario.

lord callanan: As a result of the significant progress made in negotiations, and the agreement reached at March European Council on the implementation period and Withdrawal Agreement, we are increasingly confident that we will secure a deal with the EU and that the prospect of leaving negotiations with ‘no deal’ has receded significantly. The section of the Withdrawal Agreement dealing with Financial Provisions was agreed at negotiators’ level at the time of the March European Council. As such it was turned ‘green’ and is now considered closed. Over three quarters of the Withdrawal Agreement text overall is now coloured green. We have been clear that we will be reaching an agreement on our future partnership at the same time as the Withdrawal Agreement. The Prime Minister has said on many occasions that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Pay

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) staff, and (2) consultants, at the Department for Exiting the European Union are paid salaries in excess of £140,000; and to what posts those salaries apply.

lord callanan: The Department for Exiting the European Union can confirm that 1 member of staff is paid more than £140,000. A central list of all individuals within Government earning a total pay package of £150,000 and above is published on data.gov.uk website, this includes details of roles undertaken. Details of DExEU Board members pay is available in the Remuneration Report in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which is made publicly available at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-and-accounts-2016-17.The Department does not have access to the salaries consultants are paid by their respective companies.

EU Budget: Contributions

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government which EU member states are (1) net beneficiaries, and (2) net contributors, to the EU budget; and what are the approximate total (a) net contributions, and (b) net receipts, of each member state.

lord callanan: Her Majesty’s Treasury release an annual report, European Union Finances (the latest of which was released in March 2018). This report details the UK’s financial relationship with the EU, including our contributions, receipts and rebate. Chart 3.C details each member state’s average net contribution to the EU budget as a percentage of gross national income for the years 2012-2016. The financial relationship between the EU and other member states are detailed in the European Commission publication, the EU Budget Financial Report, the most recent of these being in 2016. This report includes a breakdown of member state contributions and receipts. The latest report can be found on the European Commission’s website.



European Union Finances 2017
(PDF Document, 1.46 MB)




EU Budget Financial Report 2016
(PDF Document, 6.78 MB)

Electronic Warfare

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, and with whom, about the inclusion of cyber security in the security treaty they hope to negotiate with the EU; to what extent stakeholders will be consulted during the process of negotiations on that treaty; and how such a treaty will relate to any international or bilateral cyber security agreements.

lord callanan: The exact future relationship with regard to cyber security remains subject to negotiations with our EU partners. The UK is one of the world’s leading digital nations and a leader in the field of cyber security. We have accordingly taken a central role, both as an EU Member State and internationally, to push forwards the cyber agenda. To contend with a truly global threat such as this we need a truly global response - with not only the UK and EU, but industry, government, like-minded states and NATO all working together to strengthen our cyber security capabilities. In the future partnership paper on, ‘Foreign Policy, Defence and Development’, published in September last year, we listed a number of specific areas for potential cooperation and collaboration with the EU, ranging from the exchange of information about cyber threats and incidents through participation in the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) network and Co-operation Group to continuing to work to develop effective cyber security legislation and international standards. The UK will also continue to work together with the EU to promote strategic frameworks for conflict prevention, cooperation and stability in cyberspace. These frameworks should consist of: the application of existing international law; the implementation of voluntary, non-binding norms of responsible state behaviour; and the development and implementation of practical cyber confidence building measures between states.

Brexit

lord stoddart of swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the European Parliament has the power to veto any withdrawal agreement reached between the UK and the EU.

lord callanan: Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union states that the agreement between the leaving State and the EU will be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament. This means the European Parliament shall vote on the withdrawal agreement reached between the UK and EU. It will decide by a majority of votes cast.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Internet

lord harris of haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cloud services contracts that were previously delivered by British cloud services providers for the Department for Exiting the European Union are now delivered by multinational cloud service providers; what is the value of those contracts; and what are the names of the previous providers.

lord callanan: The Department for Exiting the European Union’s IT services are managed and hosted by the Cabinet Office. We are therefore unable to comment on the nature, utility or costs of the cloud services provided by the Cabinet Office.

Brexit

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 20 February (HL5494), whether they gave any consideration to the possibility of withdrawing from the EU in accordance with Article 50(1) without being bound by Articles 50(2) and 50(3); and if not, why not.

lord callanan: As stated in HL5494 and more recently in HL6551, the UK is a law abiding country and remains a Member State with full rights and obligations under the Treaties. We do not want or expect to leave the EU without a deal. Negotiating and concluding a Withdrawal Agreement as provided for under Article 50 is in the interests of both sides.

EURATOM

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the library of the House a copy of the document Draft agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Communityrecently transmitted to the UK authorities for negotiation; and what plansthey have for initiating, or involving the UK Parliament in, consideration of that document.

lord callanan: The Draft agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community was published on 19 March 2018 on gov.uk. It was accessible to peers in the Printed Paper office but will now be made available in the library of the House. The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union has recently given evidence to the Exiting the EU Committee and the European Union Committee, on 25 April and 1 May respectively, where he discussed at length issues relating to the draft withdrawal agreement. Lord Boswell of Aynho, as Chairman of the European Union Committee, wrote to the Secretary of State on 21 March with 24 questions regarding the draft withdrawal agreement. The Secretary of State responded in detail to the Committee’s questions in writing on 19 April. This is in addition to a wide range of other parliamentary activity undertaken by select committees in scrutinising particular elements of what is expected to constitute part of the eventual Withdrawal Agreement - and the Government has been clear that the withdrawal agreement will be subject to a vote in both Houses of Parliament.

EU Law

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will consult business and other interested groups on EU regulations that come into force during the transition period; and what assurance they intend to provide concerning the possibility of regulatory changes occurring both during the transition period and following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

lord callanan: We continue to engage regularly with companies and industry representatives across the economy, to discuss their priorities, inform our negotiating position and prepare for our departure from the EU. The UK and the EU agreed in March that during the implementation period, EU rules and regulations will remain in place in order to provide continuity and certainty to businesses and citizens. We currently have a robust system in place for the transposition of EU legislation, that includes stakeholder consultation. That will remain in place during the implementation period.

Department of Health and Social Care

Surgical Mesh Implants

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherthey plan to bring forward the NICE guidelines for mesh in stress-related urinary incontinence from 2019 to 2018.

lord o'shaughnessy: The update of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidance on the management of urinary incontinence to also include pelvic organ prolapse is already underway, with draft guidance for consultation expected in late 2018 and final guidance due in early 2019.As this guideline update is already in progress, there is little scope for it to be brought forward any sooner. It is also important to recognise the necessary rigour and transparency with which NICE develops clinical guidelines, which means development takes several months.

Contraceptives

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether GPs in England and Wales offer a variety of contraception free of charge to women and girls; and if so,which contraceptives are offered.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether GPs in England and Wales can refuse repeat prescriptions for specific oral contraceptive pills to women and girls.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether GPs in England and Wales can charge for prescribing certain oral contraceptive pills; and if so, which.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any policy informs the decision of some GPs in England and Wales to prescribe oral contraceptive pills forone month at a time.

lord o'shaughnessy: General practitioners (GPs), whose contracts include the provision of contraceptive services, can prescribe to all registered patients upon request, a variety of contraceptive substances and appliances. These include combined pill, contraceptive cap, contraceptive injection, contraceptive patch, diaphragms, progestogen-only pill (mini-pill) and vaginal ring, excluding the fitting and implanting of intrauterine devices and implants. Contraceptives are provided free of charge.GPs in England cannot charge patients for contraception services rendered to them. All prescribed oral contraceptive pills should be provided free of charge.It is for GPs to determine whether a repeat prescription for specific oral contraceptive pills is appropriate and whether to prescribe oral contraceptive pills for one month at a time. The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health developed the UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use which helps clinicians decide what contraceptives they can safely recommend based on the medical conditions of patients in their care.Primary care in Wales is a devolved matter.

Hospices: Finance

baroness finlay of llandaff: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether charitable hospices will be able to access the additional funding that is being set aside to pay for the proposed increases in the NHS Agenda for Change pay rates.

lord o'shaughnessy: National Health Service trades unions are currently consulting their members on the proposed Agenda for Change pay framework, which includes contract reform and pay awards over three years. We expect the outcome of the consultation exercise by early June.Staff in hospices do a fantastic job in delivering world-class care and the Department remains fully committed to improving palliative and end of life care.Levels of NHS-funded hospice care provision are a matter to be determined locally by clinical commissioning groups and they are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs of their local population.We are considering carefully the impact of any agreement on non-NHS organisations such as hospices that may be affected by the proposed deal; however no decisions have been made.

Surgical Mesh Implants

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to ensure that translabial scans are available at every acute hospital where urogynecologists and gynaecologists are seeing women for pain and complications after the implantation of pelvic mesh.

lord o'shaughnessy: Translabial scans will not be available in all acute hospitals that are seeing women with mesh complications, as they are not routinely used in the assessment of women with mesh and mesh complications. Translabial scans have not been validated in large studies and there is no evidence base to support routine use in this situation; they are currently only used as a research tool.

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether details of all patients who received Cervarix or Gardasil human papillomavirus vaccines and who have developed cervical cancer are recorded on the National Health Application and Infrastructure Services systems; and if not, why not.

lord o'shaughnessy: The cervical screening programme detects precancerous cell abnormalities which if left undetected could develop into cervical cancer. The National Health Application and Infrastructure Services system (NHAIS) provides the call and recall function for the cervical screening programme and contains the screening test results. It does not record the follow up colposcopy outcome or a diagnosis of cervical cancer; this would be recorded at cancer registries. Human papillomavirus vaccination records for girls are uploaded onto NHAIS from the Child Health Information System or the general practitioner record so that as these young women become eligible for the National Health Service cervical screening programme (currently at the age of 25 in England) their immunisation history is known.

Dental Health: Children

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the rates of tooth decay among children in England in each of the last ten years.

lord o'shaughnessy: The former National Health Service Dental Epidemiology Programme collected data in 2007/08 and 2011/12 for five year olds. It showed 31% and 28% were affected by tooth decay respectively. The programme also collected data for 12 year olds in 2008/09 and found 33% were affected by dental decay.For all age groups, no data are available for 2010 and 2011.The 2013 Child Dental Health Survey collected data on five year olds, eight year olds, 12 year olds and 15 year olds. It showed that: 31% of five year olds; 49% of eight year olds; 37% of 12 year olds and 44% of 15 year olds are affected by dental decay.Data on three year olds was collected in 2012/13 by Public Health England (PHE) Dental Public Health Intelligence Programme and this shows that 12% of three year olds are affected by dental decay.In 2013/14 PHE Oral Health Survey collected data on five year olds and 12 year olds attending special support schools which shows that, in England, 22% of five year olds and 29% of 12 year olds attending special support schools had experience of obvious dental decay.In 2014/15 PHE Dental Public Health Intelligence Programme collected data on five year old and this shows that 25% of five year olds are affected by dental decay.Results from the latest oral health survey of five year old children in England will be published in the oral health survey of five-year-old children 2016-17 report by Public Health England by June 2018.

Department for International Development

Burma: Refugees

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the humanitarian needs of Shan refugees on the Thai–Burmese border, following cuts in international aid and food rations to camps in that area.

lord bates: DFID provides humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected people in Rakhine, Kachin, Northern Shan and to the 100,000 Burmese refugees in camps in Thailand. At present, DFID is not providing support directly to Shan refugees on the Thai–Burmese border following a needs assessment in early 2018. Humanitarian Advisors continue to monitor the situation, including speaking to the Border Consortium.

Burma: Humanitarian Aid

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Burma about allowing unhindered access for humanitarian aid to all parts of Kachin, Northern Shan and Rakhine States.

lord bates: Access for humanitarian aid to conflict affected people in Rakhine, Kachin and northern Shan is vital, and without it, needs will not be met and lives will be lost. The UK provides humanitarian assistance in all these areas, but this is highly limited by government restrictions. We have pressed for unfettered access directly with the Burmese government though ministerial and senior official calls and meetings, and as part of joint calls with other agencies and development partners working in Burma.

Developing Countries: Climate Change

lord hunt of chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to focus economic and technical assistance to those developing countries in the tropics that are experiencing the most adverse effects of climate change.

lord bates: The UK Government has committed to provide £5.8bn of Official Development Assistance as International Climate Finance (ICF) between April 2016 and March 2021, including to many of the countries in the tropics.UK assistance helps the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people to build resilience and cope with the impacts of climate change, move to a low carbon economy and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the stewardship of natural resources, especially forests.UK assistance has already helped 34 million people to cope with the effects of climate change and we will continue to support those who are most in need.

Burma: Rohingya

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what stepsthey are taking to help ensure thatRohingya refugees are in suitable housing for cyclone and monsoon season.

lord bates: Activities to prepare for the monsoon are accelerating, including distributing upgraded shelter kits and improvements to pathways and bridges to maintain access. The UK is providing 152,000 people with emergency shelter and more than 100,000 households will receive guidance on how to build improved, safer shelters. Overall, 450,000 people will benefit from UK support to make their shelters more resilient to rain and heavy winds.

Burma: Rohingya

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what stepsthey are taking to help ensure that all Rohingya refugees have adequate food and drinking water supplies during the cyclone season.

lord bates: The UK is providing safe drinking water for 250,000 Rohingya people, through the establishment of approximately 20,000 water access points for those living in the camps. Over 367,000 people are being provided with food assistance with UK funding, either through direct food items, vouchers or cash transfers.

Burma: Rohingya

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help ensure that waste management is maintained in the Rohingya camps throughout monsoon and cyclone season.

lord bates: The UK is funding the construction and maintenance of over 7,000 latrines, decommissioning those at risk from flooding, and establishing new ones in more appropriate locations ahead of the monsoon and cyclone season.

Yemen: Children

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help children at risk of starvation in Yemen.

lord bates: The UK recently announced £170 million in support to Yemen for the financial year 2018/19, which will meet immediate food needs for 2.5 million Yemenis, including children at risk of starvation. Last financial year, we provided £60 million to the World Food Programme to provide millions of people with food, as well as £25 million to UNICEF, which included support to treat children with severe acute malnutrition. We also provided £24 million to our NGO partners through our Yemen Multisector Humanitarian Response Programme, which included support to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition. The UK has also taken a leading role in calling on all parties to allow unhindered humanitarian and commercial access across the country, including for vital food and fuel.

Yemen: Hospitals

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help ensure hospitals in Yemen have access to medical supplies, including antibiotics.

lord bates: The UK recently announced £170 million of funding to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen for the financial year 2018/19. This funding will provide life-saving food, medicine (including antibiotics), clean water and sanitation to millions of people facing disease and hunger in Yemen. Our funding to UNICEF, the UN’s Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund and to our NGO partners through our Yemen Multisector Humanitarian Response Programme all contribute to improving the quality and availability of healthcare and medical supplies. We have also taken a leading role in calling on all parties to allow unhindered humanitarian and commercial access, including for medical supplies, as well as food and fuel, across Yemen.Last financial year, we provided over £8 million in targeted cholera funding to UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration. This support aimed to provide medical supplies to half a million people, safe access to chlorinated water to 300,000 people, and rehabilitate medical facilities used by 250,000 people.

Yemen: Water

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help ensure people in Yemen have access to clean water.

lord bates: Our funding of £170 million to Yemen this financial year (2018/19) includes support to UNICEF to provide access to a safe water supply, sanitation, and hygiene; as well as to other programmes that deliver a range of activities to improve water access alongside other priorities, including our Yemen Multisector Humanitarian Response Programme, the Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund, and Yemen's Social Fund for Development. Our support of £205 million to Yemen in the financial year 2017/18 included funding aimed at providing clean water and sanitation for approximately 1.2 million people. UK funding also provided fuel across the country to keep water systems working in major cities.

Department for Education

Home Education

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many school age children were home-schooled in 2015 and how many are home-schooled according to their latest figures;what information they havwe about the reasons for any increase in the numbers of parents home-schooling their children; whether their projections indicate that the number of home-schooled children will rise; and what action they are taking to ensure the quality of the education such children receive, as well as child safeguarding.

lord agnew of oulton: Data on numbers of children being educated at home are not collected on a national basis and consequently it is not possible to state such numbers - either at specific dates or as projections for the future. For the same reason, no national data are available on reasons why children are educated at home. However, in the autumn of 2017 the Association of Directors of Children’s Services estimated, on the basis of a survey of local authorities, that the total number in England was 45,500, an increase of 21% on the position eighteen months previously. This was one of the reasons leading to the government’s consultation and call for evidence published on 10 April, which is likely to produce more information on these points. The government response document, to be published after the close of the consultation, will set out the government’s intentions on home education.

Home Education

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the status of flexi-schooling in terms of the school roll and pupil funding allocation.

lord agnew of oulton: Children who are educated at home can also be registered at school and attend school for part of the week. Such an arrangement is known as ‘flexi-schooling’. Schools are under no obligation to agree to such an arrangement, but some are happy to do so. Schools must enter a pupil on the admission register from the beginning of the first day that the pupil will attend the school; this will include a pupil who is flexi-schooled. Where a school has agreed to a flexi-schooling arrangement, the time a child spends being educated at home should be recorded as absence. On the day of the autumn school census, schools record every pupil who is entered on the admission register. A school will attract per pupil funding if a pupil is recorded in the autumn school census.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Parliament: Telephone Services

lord palmer: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what, if any, has been the annual saving to the two Houses of the outsourcing of the switchboard service; and how are the costs of that service apportioned between the two Houses.

lord laming: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.The saving projected when the outsourced switchboard provider, 3C Ltd, changed to Capita PLC in May 2012 was £1.53m. The saving was projected over the course of 7 years, meaning that the average forecast annual saving was £218.57k. Saving over the full 7 year term is now forecast to be £1.88m, providing an average annual saving of £269.33k. The actual saving after 6 years has been £1.45m, with an average annual saving of £242.36k.Until 31 March 2015, 20% of costs were apportioned to the House of Lords and 80% to the House of Commons. Since 1 April 2015, 30% of costs are apportioned to the House of Lords and 70% to the House of Commons.

Parliament: Telephone Services

lord palmer: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what has been the saving to the two Houses arising from the changes to the opening hours of the switchboard service that were introduced in February.

lord laming: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.The changes made in 2017-18 to the service, including the changes in opening hours introduced in February 2018, have delivered a saving of £23.1k in the financial year 2017-18 and are forecast to deliver a saving of £124.3k in the financial year 2018-19.The service changes included a change to the call answering Service Level Agreement from 90% of calls being answered in 10 seconds to 85% of calls being answered in 20 seconds, and a change of opening hours during sitting times and recesses, including closure on Sundays and UK Bank Holidays.  The change to the Service Level Agreement, of 85% of calls being answered in 20 seconds, remains a higher standard than the Service Level Agreements of many top companies renowned for delivering excellent service.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current strength of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.

earl howe: The strength of Her Majesty's Armed Forces as at 1 January 2018 is 194,950.Information on Armed Forces strength is regularly published by Defence Statistics in the UK Armed Forces Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics, which can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2018Updated figures as at 1 April will be accessible at the same website address from 17 May 2018.



Quarterly Service Personnel Statistcs 2018
(PDF Document, 605.86 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Wildcats

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, and with whom,about re-introducing wildcats to the English countryside.

lord gardiner of kimble: Wildcats are currently extant in the UK, being found in parts of Scotland, and therefore the release of the species in England is not considered a reintroduction in the UK context. Due to this, no licence is required from Natural England to release them in the wild and the Government is not part of any decision to do so. The movement and release of any species in England, including wildcats, is expected to follow the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) guidelines as best practice. The Government has had no discussions with third parties about formal plans to release wildcats to the English countryside. Wildcats are a European Protected Species and protected in the UK under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, which makes it offence to capture, kill, injure or disturb these animals. Licences may be granted however, for the purposes of preventing damage to livestock, foodstuffs or property, as well as in the interest of preserving public safety, health, overriding public interest or environmental concerns.

Common Fisheries Policy

lord stoddart of swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement byLord Gardiner of Kimble on 26 April concerning the April Agriculture and Fisheries Council (HLWS631), what assessment they have made of the extent to which their welcome for the European Commission's proposed alignment of the Western Waters plan with the North Sea plan is compatible with the return of the UK's control over UK fishing waters following exit from the EU.

lord gardiner of kimble: The multi-annual plans (MAPs) that we have helped develop would be without prejudice to our legal status as an independent coastal state after we leave the EU. After we leave the EU, the plans may form the basis for bilateral co-operation on the management of sustainable fisheries. However the setting of fishing opportunities and fishing regulations will cease to be an EU competence in UK waters.

Dogs: Tagging

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of dogs that are not microchipped.

lord gardiner of kimble: As at March 2018, we estimate that fewer than 10% of dogs are not microchipped.

Bees: Neonicotinoids

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the harm thatneonicotinoids do to the bee population.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government has always been clear that it will be led by the science and will not put the UK’s pollinator populations at risk. Concerns centre on three neonicotinoids: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. The most recent assessment was carried out by the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides last autumn. Its advice to Ministers can be found online:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658146/ecp-ministers-advice-1710.pdf



Advice to Departments
(PDF Document, 255.8 KB)

Agriculture: Ammonia

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much has been paid in grants to farmers under the Farming Ammonia Reduction Grant Scheme.

lord gardiner of kimble: We are taking steps to reduce emissions of ammonia, which in the air can damage the environment and combine with pollution from traffic and industry to create smog in our cities. In 2016, agriculture accounted for around 88% of total UK ammonia emissions.In 2017 we provided practical help for dairy and beef farmers in England through the Farming Ammonia Reduction Grant (FARG) scheme.Under the scheme a total of around £2.96 million was paid in grants to farmers for installation of slurry store covers. Fifty three farms received grants and 345 farms received one-to-one advice on reducing ammonia emissions from a farm adviser.Funding is currently available under the Countryside Productivity scheme for other equipment to help farmers reduce their ammonia emissions, such as low emission spreading equipment and slurry storage bags. We will deliver a Clean Air Strategy in 2018, setting out how we will work towards our targets to reduce significantly emissions of ammonia and other air pollutants.

Rural Areas: Grants

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much has been paid in grants, and to whom, for the Rural Development for England Growth Programme.

lord gardiner of kimble: Funding is available under the Rural Development Programme for England Growth Programme to support rural tourism, business development and food processing. As at 8th May 99 projects have been paid £8.8 million. The beneficiaries, the grant amount awarded in each case and the amount paid to date are in the attached table. A separate offer for local authorities to improve the provision of superfast broadband in their area is available. No payment has yet been made. The attached document shows the full breakdown of grant payments.



RDPE Growth Programme Grant Payments as at 8th May
(PDF Document, 42.63 KB)

Food: Regulation

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of any future regulatory divergence in the area of food and drink on the UK’s ability to trade with the EU27 after Brexit.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government is undertaking a wide range of analysis looking at the implications of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Our programme of analysis is constantly developing and evolving, and includes all areas of the UK economy and input from a wide range of sectors.

Food: Regulation

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to establishing, after Brexit, (1) a framework for the food industry to minimise fragmentation across the UK, and (2) a single body responsible for regulation of that industry.

lord gardiner of kimble: As we leave the EU our guiding principle will be to make sure that no new barriers to living and doing business in the UK are created. That means maintaining the necessary common standards and frameworks for our own domestic market, empowering the UK as an open, trading nation to strike the best trade deals around the world, and protecting the common resources. The Government is working closely with devolved administrations on a wide range of issues, including those relating to the food industry, to deliver an approach that works for the whole of the UK and reflects the needs and individual circumstances of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. This includes mechanisms to achieve this, including frameworks, and how they may be managed or regulated. Defra is working closely with the Food Standards Agency and Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that the regulatory regime for food safety remains robust as the UK leaves the EU, in order to protect public health and retain the confidence of consumers and international trading partners. It will be our priority to maintain the UK’s high standards of food and feed safety, and to ensure we take a risk based, proportionate approach when providing risk assessments. UK risk management decisions will continue to be based on robust scientific evidence.

Fisheries

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government when their fisheries white paper will be published.

lord gardiner of kimble: We will be publishing a White Paper in due course. It will set out our future vision for sustainable fisheries management.

Home Office

Immigration: Caribbean

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which Windrush generation immigrants may be too afraid of deportation to contact the Home Office to regularise their status in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: The purpose of the taskforce and contact centre is not for the purposes of Immigration Enforcement. I recognise the concerns of some people in the Windrush generation and I would not want anyone who has made their life in the UK to feel unwelcome or to be in any doubt of their right to remain here. The Home Office has no intention of asking anyone to leave who has the right to remain here.I would encourage people to contact the Home Office. We have established a dedicated taskforce to help the Windrush Generation and other long-term residents to evidence their right to be in the UK and to access the necessary services and benefits.Individuals can contact the Home Office, by telephone on 0800 678 1925 or by emailing commonwealthtaskforce@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.The Home Secretary has been clear, that this helpline and the information shared with it will not be used to remove people from the country. Its purpose is to provide help and support.

Home Office: Databases

lord harris of haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the Home Office's data is hosted (1) in the UK, and (2) overseas.

baroness williams of trafford: We currently store some of our data with cloud services providers in the UK and Ireland.The complexity and range of services means that we do not explicitly estimate the proportions of data hosted in each country, but the vast majority is in the UK, and we are moving the single facility outside of the UK, in Ireland, back to the UK. Our cloud services providers meet the requirements of current legislation.

Home Office: Data Protection

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made ofconcerns raised by civil rights groups regarding the potential negative effects that exemptions for the Home Office from the Data Protection Bill might have on future migrants; and what protections, if any, they plan toput in place to prevent another event similar to the Windrush scandal.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has listened to concerns raised and revised the scope of the immigration exemption in the Data Protection Bill by removing exemptions in relation to the right to rectification and the right to data portability, Articles 16 and 20 respectively of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).We have also tabled a further amendment to remove the exemption relating to fair and transparent processing at paragraph 4(2)(b) of Schedule 2. The remaining exemptions will ensure that while people’s rights relating to data are protected, day to day operations relating to immigration controls are not obstructed, and individual rights are balanced against the wider public interest in maintaining an effective immigration system. We will publish detailed and robust guidance on how the exemption may be used in limited circumstances on a case-by-case basis. People will also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner if they disagree with any use of the immigration exemption.

European Arrest Warrants: Romania

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether prison conditions in Romania are taken into account when responding to European Arrest Warrants.

baroness williams of trafford: The decision whether to surrender a requested person in response to a European Arrest Warrant is a matter for the courts. Judges are required to take into account a range of factors set out in the Extradition Act as well as whether the requested person was convicted in absentia, human rights or whether a person’s mental and physical capacity should prevent extradition. These statutory requirements apply to European Arrest Warrants from all EU Member States.

Deportation: Romania

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the UKcould be in breach of its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights by deporting individuals who will be held in prisons in Romania.

baroness williams of trafford: In making a decision to deport a person, the Home Office is required to take into account a range of factors including whether removal could be contrary to the Human Rights Act. If the individual will be imprisoned and prison conditions are such that they would be considered a violation of their human rights, they will not be deported.The Home Office does not disclose country specific information regarding deportation of foreign national offenders.

Immigrants: Detainees

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were detained for immigration purposes in (1) 2010, (2) 2015, (3) 2016, and (4) 2017.

baroness williams of trafford: Information on the number of people entering detention is available in tables dt_01 and dt_01_q of the detention tables in the latest release of ‘Immigration Statistics, October to December 2017’, available from the GOV.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/681703/detention-oct-dec-2017-tables.ods and are also attached.The number of people entering the detention estate, detained solely under Immigration Act powers, was 25,904 in 2010, 32,447 in 2015, 28,903 in 2016 and 27,331 in 2017.



Tables dt and dt_01 - detention tables Oct-Dec 201
(Excel SpreadSheet, 82.16 KB)

Immigrants: Detainees

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the closure of the Cedars family immigration centre, what accommodation they now use to house families with children, when deemed necessary for immigration purposes.

baroness williams of trafford: On 21 July 2016 the Government announced plans to close Cedars pre-departure accommodation and replace it with new pre-departure accommodation near Gatwick airport, as a discrete unit at Tinsley House immigration removal centre.New pre-departure accommodation opened at Tinsley House on 26 June 2017 and is used only as a last resort after all voluntary or other returns options have failed. It operates under the distinct statutory framework established by the Immigration Act 2014, including the requirement for the Independent Family Returns Panel to be consulted in advance where it is proposed that a family is to be held there.

Deportation: Young People

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they make with destination countries when asylum seekers who were previously minors are deported at the age of 18.

baroness williams of trafford: In recognition of their vulnerability, the Home Office does not return unaccompanied children whose claims for international protection have been refused, unless safe and adequate reception arrangements are in place in their country of origin.On turning 18, these adults will be expected to take steps to return to their country of origin or show that they qualify for further leave to remain. Removal will only occur when the Home Office and the courts conclude that it is safe and reasonable to do so, with a safe route of return to their home country. Support is available to those who return voluntarily.

Immigrants: Detainees

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average annual cost per person held in immigration detention centres.

baroness williams of trafford: The average cost to detain an individual in immigration detention is provided on a per day basis. The current daily cost per detainee is £85.97 (annual £31,378) and can be found at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-enforcement-data-february-2018

Immigration

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to reassess their target to reduce net migration to below 100,000 per year.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is committed to controlled and sustainable migration, which we have said means bringing net migration down to the tens of thousands, but we have also been clear that this will take time.We are building an immigration system that serves the national interest by welcoming legitimate migrants, and which is fair to those who are already here and achieves the best possible outcome for the British people.

Educational Visits: EU Countries

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to take steps to ensure that educational school day trips to Europe are not disrupted due to potential visa requirements following Brexit.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government recognises the importance of educational school day trips to other EU countries. We have agreed an Implementation Period with the EU, running from exit day to the end of 2020, during which existing EU rules will continue to apply. During this period, UK citizens will be able to visit, live and work in other EU countries as now, and EU citizens can continue to visit, live and work in the UK.The Government is carefully considering a range of options for the future immigration system from 2021, and will set out initial plans later this year. We will want to ensure that any decisions on the long-term arrangements are based on evidence and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.

Cabinet Office

Capita

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what IT or data services are provided to central government departments by Capita.

baroness stedman-scott: Capita provides a wide range of IT and data services to central government departments. These include hosting, IT services, support and maintenance.Details of contracts with a value over £10,000 are published on the Contracts Finder website. https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Intelligence Services: Recruitment

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 13 April (HL6781), how many of the “over 1,900 additional security and intelligence staff” stated in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 have been successfully recruited and trained and remain in the relevant organisations.

baroness stedman-scott: For reasons of national security, It has been the policy of successive Government not to go into detail regarding the ongoing recruitment, training and retention profile of security and intelligence staff. However, progress against each of the commitments made in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 is closely monitored, and reported annually to Parliament. The Second Annual Report, included in the National Security and Capability Review, was published in March 2018 attached. The Second Annual Report set out that we remain on track to meet this commitment. 



National Security Capability Review 
(PDF Document, 2.73 MB)

National Security

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 11 and 13 April (HL6782 and HL6848), how the Fusion Doctrine from the 2018 National Security Capability Review is now being used to “improve our collective approach to national security”; and how many new reservists or other resources to deal with hybrid threats, based on the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, have been recruited and trained.

baroness stedman-scott: The Fusion Doctrine acts as a framework for our National Security Strategy so that we can identify the most effective and efficient combination of methods to achieve the Government’s objectives. The doctrine will ensure that in defending our national security we make better use of all of our capabilities: from economic levers; through cutting-edge military resources; to our wider diplomatic and cultural influence on the world’s stage.Our response to the Salisbury attack is an example of the Fusion Doctrine in practice. We are deploying the full range of our National Security capabilities to counter the threats of hostile activity wherever it may come from.The 2018 National Security Capability Review (NSCR) makes clear the Government’s commitment to addressing a complex and evolving threat picture to safeguard national security. The UK Volunteer Reserve Forces trained strength continues to grow, totalling 32,240 (as of January 2018). Both reservists and regulars contribute manpower and specialisms to two innovative Brigades which were established in direct response to hybrid threats as identified in the SDSR 2015, these units provide specialist capabilities in strategic communications, cyber and intelligence.The two Brigades are:· 77 Brigade which is comprised of approximately 200 Regular and 270 Reserve Service Personnel;· 1 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Brigade comprised of approximately 2,800 Regulars and around 2,100 Reservists.

National Security

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 13 April (HL6849), whether they consider they have sufficient financial resources to pre-empt and address a hybrid threat, with the knowledge that government departments are already prioritising their budgets to mitigate risks and in the light of the end of the £1.9 billion commitment to improve cyber resilience in the current funding round.

baroness stedman-scott: The National Cyber Security Strategy clearly outlines how the Government is developing defences against the cyber threat we face. We are investing £1.9 billion through the National Cyber Security Programme and have opened a new National Cyber Security Centre that is activity working with international partners, industry and civil society to tackle this threat. The activities of the NCSP are aligned with robust physical and personnel security measures to guard against hybrid attacks.We are working across government to ensure that effective defence against cyber and hybrid attacks remains a key priority for all departments up to and beyond March 2021.

National Security Council

lord hennessy of nympsfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Chilcot Checklist is being applied to the policy-making and decision-taking processes of the National Security Council and its sub-committees.

baroness stedman-scott: Advice to Ministers in support of NSC discussions is built around the elements of the Chilcot Checklist, covering UK interests & objectives; analysis; outlook (including best and worst case scenarios); and the UK’s contribution (including resourcing). The recent National Security Capability Review builds on this by introducing a new National Security Fusion Doctrine. The Fusion Doctrine creates a more accountable system to support collective Cabinet decision-making, and reinforces a Chilcot-compliant approach to strategies for NSC priorities.In order to strengthen and systemise legal work in support of NSC decision-making, NSC(O)(Legal) was established in January 2017 to provide strategic oversight of the legal advice being developed and offer general legal support to NSC and NSC(O).

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Small Businesses: Data Protection

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support, if any, will they offer small and medium sized businesses to help them comply with the General Data Protection Regulation.

lord ashton of hyde: The Government and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) recognise the challenges facing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK economy in their preparations for the Data Protection Bill and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The ICO is leading on providing guidance and support to UK organisations and have already published a number of resources on the Commissioner's website (ico.org.uk) to help all organisations prepare. The ICO has: launched a dedicated helpline service for smaller organisations; updated its 'SMEs toolkit' to reflect the requirements of the GDPR; simplified its "12-step" GDPR preparation guidance; and published FAQs for SMEs. To support the ICO the Government delivered an awareness-raising marketing campaign targeted at those organisations and sectors, including SMEs, most in need of support. There is still more to do in this space and the Government will continue to support the ICO to ensure the UK is prepared.